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A father recounts to his children - through a series of flashbacks - the journey he and his four best friends took leading up to him meeting their mother.
“A love story in reverse.”
Josh Radnor
Ted Mosby
Neil Patrick Harris
Barney Stinson
Jason Segel
Marshall Eriksen
Alyson Hannigan
Lily Aldrin
Cobie Smulders
Robin Scherbatsky
Cristin Milioti
Tracy McConnell
2007
Robin shows up with a date and this motivates Ted to 'get back out there'. We also learn something major about 'the Mother'.
Ted and Barney pretend to be visitors to New York City to pick up women. Robin is still dating Gael.
Ted's new attitude attracts women in the present and one from his past. The rest of the gang pulls together to help him make the most of the situation.
Barney and Ted compete for a girl. Robin is dating someone new.
Amid sharing stories with her about how members of the gang met each other, Ted's hot new girlfriend has a reaction to the meeting that gets her a high ranking on Barney's crazy scale.
Marshall has to contemplate giving up his plan of using his law degree to help the planet when he's courted by a major firm; Lily reveals a secret to Robin that not even Marshall knows; Ted discovers a porn actor is using his name
Marshall and Lily's plan to buy an apartment is hampered by mistakes and Lily's hidden debt.
Marshall awaits his bar exam results; Ted introduces his latest girlfriend to the gang, who all see the flaw that Ted has missed
Lily and Marshall have their first Thanksgiving as a married couple; Barney is tortured by the slap bet countdown clock, worrying about when the slap will be dished out.
When Barney loses his way with women, he hopes a trip to the Victoria's Secret Fall Fashion Show will help him regain his form.
Ted's upcoming date with his doctor leads the gang to give him their own examples of why dating someone you already see regularly is a bad idea.
Ted lives like there's no tomorrow during a St. Patrick's Day celebration with Barney. Lily and Marshall spend the evening at their new apartment with Robin.
Ted pursues a woman named Stella, but only gets attention from her receptionist Abby.
Barney's efforts to hook up with women are being thwarted by a mysterious woman from his past. Barney and the gang must sift though his many past flings in an attempt to find out who she is.
After Marshall witnesses a work buddy get yelled at after handing in a report, he becomes paranoid that the same will happen to him.
Robin's musical past emerges again as the group learns of someone named Simon from Robin's past. Barney searches for more Robin Sparkles memorabilia.
Barney and Marshall have a discussion about "The Bro Code" because Barney has broken it and wants advice.
Barney gets a new wingman and Ted meets Stella's daughter.
When Barney and Abby realize that they have one thing in common - their mutual hatred of Ted - the "couple" decides to go to the bar to flaunt their new relationship in Ted's face.
Ted is in a car accident that prompts Marshall to talk about miracles. Everyone flashbacks to prior moments in their lives.
2005
When Ted's best friend Marshall proposes to his girlfriend, Lily, Ted realizes he'd better get a move on if he hopes to find true love. Ted soon meets Robin in a neighborhood bar, immediately becomes smitten and scores a first date. But when Ted can hardly wait to see her again, his eagerness threatens to scare her away.
In a desperate attempt for a second date, Ted invites Robin to a party he is throwing. However, she doesn't show up and he keeps throwing parties in the hopes she will finally arrive.
Ted agrees to let Barney spice up his love life, and ends up on a crazy adventure of flying to Philadelphia, encountering the law, and visiting the Liberty Bell.
Ted's outlook on his continuing search for love is altered when he rediscovers a shirt that has not seen daylight in years. Meanwhile, Barney amuses himself by coaxing Robin into sacrificing her job by saying completely outlandish things on air live for a cash reward.
Ted and Barney start checking out the club scene with their friend Robin, whereas Lily and Marshall try to participate in some more "grown-up" activities, as they draw slowly nearer to their wedding.
Ted makes his yearly pilgrimage to the rooftop Halloween party in search of a girl dressed as a pumpkin who he met years ago. Meanwhile, Robin struggles her new boyfriend because of her independent ways.
When a matchmaker with a 100% success rate turns Ted away because he is not compatible with any of the available women in her database, he is still determined that he is going to find his match. Meanwhile, Marshall and Lily are obsessed with ridding their apartment of a critter.
As Lily officially moves into the apartment, Ted feels like he is being edged out of the mix by his engaged roomies. Ted and Marshall each want to keep the place, so they settle it like real "grown-ups" -- launching into a sword fight.
Ted and Robin are surprised to run into Barney when they volunteer at a homeless shelter on Thanksgiving. Lily is on the brink of freaking out when she goes to Thanksgiving dinner at her future in-laws house.
After being forced into knocking back 5 shots so he will stop thinking, Ted goes on a partying rampage. The next morning, he wakes up with a woman -- and a pineapple. The gang tries to piece together the night and figure out who the woman is in his bed.
Ted rents a limo to take the gang out to sample five New Year's Eve parties in a quest to find the perfect celebration.
Robin accepts Ted's invite to a friend's wedding, but thanks to Ted, the couple may never make it down the aisle.
Ted finds a new woman at the wedding. They want to remember the evening so they don't exchange last names or numbers; but Ted takes a big fall when he tries to find out her name.
After agreeing to take things slowly and not have sex for a month, Ted and Victoria decide that they have waited long enough.
A mysterious tape arrives for Barney from one of his numerous ex-girlfriends, and the entire gang watches it. But, in order for them all to find out how she broke Barney's heart and made him into a suit-wearing bachelor, everyone must share their most embarrassing moment.
Things are going great with Ted and Victoria's relationship, but when Victoria is offered her dream job, the couple have to make serious relationship decisions. Meanwhile Marshall and Lily set out to purchase their wedding outfits and find out that none can afford what they bought.
Marshall interns at the corporation where Barney works and Lily finds that he is becoming a shallow jerk as he tries to fit in with his crude fratty coworkers. Meanwhile, Ted feels guilty when he receives several gifts from Victoria (Erika Singh) while he hasn't sent her anything.
Robin, who is very lonely, asks Ted to come over to her apartment after 2 A.M., but he isn't sure if he wants to go as he has a phone call on the way over with his friends, and with Victoria on his mind
Robin is nominated to receive an award for a news report and everyone needs a date to take to the show. Barney introduces Ted to Mary as a date that Ted can take to the show. Originally Ted is opposed to the idea of just trying to save face in front of Robin but when she shows up with a date he changes his mind. Robin asks Mary lots of questions, and Ted begins to really like Mary, despite her occupation.
Lily, Barney and Robin attend a high school prom to scout out a potential band for Lily and Marshall's wedding reception. In order to get in Lily and Robin pretend to be the dates of two kids who were going alone. Ted and Marshall are back at the apartment where they are preparing the invitations to be sent out.
When a matchmaking company calls Ted claiming they have found his soul mate, he is forced to postpone his date when Lily asks for his help.
Ted tries to keep Robin from going on a camping trip so that she can spend time with him. Barney enlists the help of an old flame to perform a rain dance. At the same time Marshall finds out about Lily's interview for the fellowship in San Francisco.
2008
Ted and Stella get engaged, but Ted soon learns that he doesn't know anything about her. Meanwhile, Barney confesses to Lily that he's in love with Robin.
Marshall claims that he had the best hamburger in the world during his first week in New York City, but he forgot where the burger joint is located. The gang then hits the streets of Manhattan to help him find it.
2006
The gang tries to help Marshall get over Lily, especially when he finds a credit card bill that leads to a hotel in New York City where some of her charges are listed.
Barney works with Marshall on his bachelor skills, which include hitting on women. Lily is back from her venture. Robin helps her look for a new apartment but gets sick of hearing about San Francisco.
When Stella's babysitter cancels, a night out turns into the gang hanging out at her place, and Ted talks up New Jersey... until he learns Stella wants him to move there after marriage.
When Ted is packing his stuff for his move to New Jersey, he discovers that the gang was going to hold an intervention for his engagement to Stella and demands they hold it anyway.
Ted and Stella move up their wedding date, but the wedding may not go off as planned after Ted breaks the "No Exes Rule" and invites Robin to come in from Japan for the wedding.
A serendipitous meeting with someone from his past has Ted thinking about how he would handle running into someone he would prefer to forget.
Barney creates a holiday to celebrate not being a father. Meanwhile, Lily and Marshall are considering having a baby, but Lily first wants advice from Ted and Robin.
A birthday party for one of Lily's co-workers leads to Robin connecting with a group of single partiers known as the "Woo Girls". Ted presents a plan for Goliath National Bank's new HQ.
The gang learns a new way to get their dates to sleep with them after Ted walks in on Robin's date sitting naked on the couch.
Ted (to prove he's not a milquetoast) and Barney (to impress Robin) pick a fight with a group of guys sitting in the gang's favorite booth at MacLaren's.
Ted tries to keep his irresponsible sister from hooking up with Barney during her trip to New York, and Robin starts hanging out with Marshall at a bar for Minnesotans, not telling them that she's really Canadian.
Ted and Robin discover that sex with each other solve their fights as roommates, which makes Barney very jealous and angry. Meanwhile, Marshall reveals that he's too embarrassed to use the office bathroom.
Lily and Marshall try to continue their airport reunion tradition. Barney and Ted offer to keep MacLaren's open during a blizzard so they can meet up with some college girls.
Robin, desperate to find a job before she is deported, agrees to let Barney produce a video resume for her.
The gang thinks that Barney must have a secret girlfriend after noticing his bizarre behavior.
Marshall and Lily are less than thrilled when they hear that Ted's college girlfriend (Laura Prepon) has moved to New York.
Ted learns that not only did Lily plant another woman's earring in his bed for Karen to find, she has meddled in some of his other relationships as well.
Marshall and Barney lie to keep Ted from finding out the headquarters he'd been hired to design for GNB has been cancelled.
When Barney learns Ted has a list of things he thinks the gang is too old to do, he sets out to do every task within 24 hours in order to prove Ted wrong.
Ted goes out on his own as an architect and hires an intern to help get things started, but the intern gets a little too close to others in the gang.
Ted breaks one of Barney and Marshall's relationship rules, texting a woman he recently met, so the pair play a joke on Ted by pretending to be the woman.
Ted ponders how being in the right place at the right time can impact a person's life; Barney celebrates his 200th female conquest.
Ted is trying to find a new job, and when an old acquaintance tries to help nothing goes as planned. Barney tries to smooth talk his way out of a ticket.
Ted is trying to keep his architecture firm afloat by doing an all-nighter, but Marshall tries to lure him to the roof for a surprise 31st birthday party, on the fourth season finale.
Ted's parents visit New York for their anniversary and he learns a family secret. Robin worries that they won't like her. Lily and Marshall try to adjust to the new format of their relationship now that they are no longer together.
After Ted and Robin's first big fight, Barney tries to convince Ted that being an architect is an easy in to picking up chicks. Lily and Robin start following his trail after discovering that Ted hit it off with a girl named Anna shortly afterward.
Marshall tries to get used to being single in a world that is very coupled-oriented. Barney intended one-night-stand won't go away. Barney uses Lily to get out of his "horrifying" situation. Lily finds a place to stay.
Barney seduces Marshall's law professor in hopes of getting her to grade more leniently. Lily takes a job at Ted's office, where she promptly steals to teach Ted's boss a lesson.
Marshall goes on his first real date post-breakup with Lily. Not only do Ted and Barney try to warn him that this girl has got the crazy eyes, but Lily decides to do everything she can to find out about this her and break them up. Also, Barney gets a new name.
Marshall and Lily drag the gang to Atlantic City to elope, and their quest to overcome the three-day wait for a marriage license crosses them with some Chinese gamblers, a ship captain, and a sexy novelty shirt.
Ted and Barney discusses their viewpoints on knowing things about women. Barney thinks that the more you know the more likely you are to find a deal breaker. Ted wants to know the deal breakers right away, as Robin refuses to go to the mall to cover her secret.
Barney's brother, James (Wayne Brady), visits and Robin, the only one in the group that has never met him, is suprised. But James has a surprise for Barney that he finds difficult to swallow.
Ted almost ruins Christmas for everyone when, still carrying around anger toward Lily, he calls her a horribly disgusting name. Robin tends to Barney while he has a cold.
Robin wants to tell Ted that she loves him, but she can't tell him. Meanwhile, her sister visits and brings her boyfriend, and Robin doesn't know how to react when her sister says she's ready to lose her virginity.
When Ted is constantly insulted by his former boss, who is now working for him on a project, he is told to fire the man, but he finds that a hard thing to do. Meanwhile, Barney offers Lily a lot of money to paint a nude portrait of him.
When a funeral conflicts with the Super Bowl, the gang vows to avoid hearing the score and watch it together on Monday. This proves difficult, as Marshall is threatened with the score by a boy in Lily's class, while doing the news puts Robin in danger of finding out who won.
Ted can't seem to catch a flight to interview for his dream job and he and Robin contemplate why. The story unfolds backwards as they think about it they remember when Robin and Lily went hunting for a wedding dress and when Barney got stuck on the subway.
Lily gets asked to play in an off-off-off-off-broadway play, and the gang shows up to support her. Ted and Robin get hung up on what each kept from their past relationships. Barney performs his own play to prove a point to Lily.
Marshall is all set to celebrate his beloved Fiero hitting the 200,000 mile mark but it stops. While the gang sits in the mechanic's garage and waits to hear what will happen to the vehicle they think about times gone by that they have spent together in the car. We also get the story of how Ted met Marshall.
Barney takes drastic measures to prevent Ted from moving into Robin's apartment. Meanwhile, Marshall and Lily are discovering the ups and downs of having the apartment to themselves.
Robin attends Lily's bridal shower and finds the gift that she brought is out of place. Barney hires a stripper for Marshall's bachelor party.
Thinking that Bob Barker may be his father, Barney is overjoyed to be a contestant on The Price is Right. Marshall and Lily try sleeping apart prior to the wedding.
With everything going wrong on Lily and Marshall's wedding day, to everyone's surprise it's confirmed bachelor Barney who tries to fix it all.
It's still Marshall and Lily's big wedding day but now we're at the reception. Robin tries to tell a story but keeps getting interrupted. Barney tries his hardest to figure out Ted and Robin's secret.
2009
After sharing a kiss at the beginning of the summer, Robin and Barney are unsure how to handle their mutual attraction. After some consideration they tell the gang they have decided to remain just friends, but secretly continue seeing each other. They are able to get away with their secret romance for a couple months, but are discovered when Ted, Marshall and Lily walk in on them together. They explain to the gang that they are happy with their casual relationship, and didn't want to complicate it by defining it. This is unacceptable to Lily, who pressures them to label their situation, and ultimately locks them in Robin's room to force them to address it. Meanwhile, Ted is anxious about his first days as a professor at Columbia, which is made worse when he shows up at the wrong class and starts his lecture.
Barney takes Marshall, and Robin to a strip club where they find a stripper who looks almost exactly like Lily. Meanwhile, Ted discovers he had been fixed up with the same woman, Jen seven years earlier.
When Robin fears that Barney is cheating on her, she soon discovers that he is spending his evenings with Ted learning everything there is to know on how to date her.
Marshall and Lily want to hook up with Barney and Robin for double-dating and fun, but their desperate eagerness to please is a huge turn-off. Meanwhile, when a succession of girls come to his apartment and immediately fall asleep, Ted is bummed to learn he is a "Sexless Innkeeper" whose "dates" are only interested in a comfy place to crash
Barney tries his best hoping to convince Robin into becoming an American citizen, while Ted and Marshall's road trip takes an unexpected turn for the worst when Marshall invites Lily to come along.
Even though they do their best in order to be the perfect couple, Barney's attitude of know-it-all lands him in trouble with Robin and they are forced to seek Marshall and Lily for advice.
Lily comes up with a perfect plan to break up the relationship between Barney and Robin when they have a rough patch, but she needs help from Robin's famous friend, Alan Thicke, in order to make it work.
After his relationship with Robin ends, Barney dusts off his "playbook" to help him back into the dating scene
Barney freaks out when Marshall bequeaths a "slap bet" slap to Ted and Robin. Meanwhile, Lily's estranged father shows up for Thanksgiving.
When a perfect girl finally shows up, the gang tries everything to help Ted, while Marshall takes action when he discovers a letter written by younger himself.
When Marshall picks up smoking again, it prompts Lily, Ted and Barney, ex-smokers all, to succumb as well. Meanwhile, Robin gets a new co-anchor at her show...
When Barney debates giving up wearing suits in order to land a hot bartender, his conflicted feelings lead to an amazingly awesome musical number. Meanwhile, Ted gets one step closer to meeting the future mother of his kids.
When Lily refuses to believe that Jenkins, Marshall's attractive female colleague, kissed him, Marshall insists Jenkins tell Lily what really happened. Meanwhile, Robin finds out that a drinking game has been made up about her.
When Barney is about to complete the perfect week - landing seven different girls in seven days - the gang roots him on in order to forget about their own miserable week.
When Lily and Marshall forget to fix up Ted on a blind date for Valentine's Day, they use one of Barney's many discarded girls to see if they may become Ted's future wife. Meanwhile, Robin's obnoxious colleague invites her to a party at his apartment
When the gang tries to convince Ted that he is being strung along by Tiffany, they reflect about relationships where each of them has been in the same situation.
When Robin confesses that she is still angry with Barney for the way he handled their break-up, she enlists the help of Anita, a self-help author who plans to beat Barney at his own game.
When Ted ruins Lily's birthday dinner celebration by bringing a date, Lily goes to great lengths to keep her out of the traditional photo she takes every year of the gang.
When Marshall gets mugged, Lily decides she wants to get a gun for protection, so Marshall comes up with a convoluted story about the mugging to deter Lily from following through.
When Ted attends his mother's wedding, he is extremely disturbed by her overly affectionate relationship with her fiancé, which forces him to think about his own life and make an impulsive decision.
When Ted and Barney jeopardize Robin's new relationship by professing their love for her, Robin realizes that she is finally over them. Meanwhile, after spending a weekend sleeping in twin beds, Marshall and Lily decide to get twin beds at home.
When Ted, Marshall, Lily and Barney crash a highfalutin party at a swanky New York apartment, Ted gets the chance to mingle with the snooty guests and show off his intellectual side.
When Ted takes a date to see a new hit movie, "The Wedding Bride," he is shocked to learn the story is loosely based on his life, and that it was written by Tony, the man Stella left him for at the altar.
Marshall and Lily make a secret pact to start trying to have a baby if they ever finally see Barney's doppelganger. Meanwhile, Robin finally gets an offer for her dream job.
2010
When Ted and Barney argue about who has "dibs" on a hot girl, Ted realizes that she is there with Cindy, a girl he previously dated who is also the roommate of his future wife. Meanwhile, Robin is heartbroken over Don, and Marshall can't keep quiet about his desire to start a family.
When Barney convinces the gang to help his mom move out of her home, they quickly learn that she has been very protective of Barney and lied to him about events throughout his life. Meanwhile, Ted gets upset when Robin oversells him to a blind date.
2012
Robin's anxiety on her wedding day to Barney prompts Ted to recount the time he insisted on leaving Victoria's jilted fiancé a note before they drove off into the sunset together.
When Barney designs an extensive pre-nup, the guys take note and propose their own relationship amendments to their significant others. Meanwhile, Quinn is outraged and draws up a pre-nup of her own, which causes friction between the sexes.
Barney uses his best womanizing tactics to try to convince Ted to design the new GNB building; Robin drunk dials Don.
When the gang teases Robin about not being a real New Yorker, she sets out to prove them wrong by racing to catch a glimpse of Woody Allen.
Ted becomes conflicted after meeting an attractive woman who is passionate about saving the landmark building being torn down for his new project.
Marshall and Lily try to figure out how to conceive a baby with the gender of their choice; Robin's perky new co-anchor irritates her.
When Zoey enrolls in Ted's class, she manipulates his students into taking her side in the fight to save the building being torn down to make room for his project. Meanwhile, Marshall and Lily spot Robin marching in the Halloween parade of shame.
When the gang goes to a black tie event at the Natural History Museum, Ted gets introduced to Zoey's husband, The Captain.
Barney's discovery of a Canadian kids show called Space Teens, that Robin appeared on as Robin Sparkles, leads the gang to get her to reach out to her co-star, Jessica Glitter.
When Ted leaves the bar early to prepare a Thanksgiving feast for his friends, the gang winds up partying all night with The Blitz, an old friend from college who has bad luck. As a result Ted is forced to spend Thanksgiving with Zoey.
When Ted's new friendship with Zoey tests the theory that single men and married women can't be friends, he invites her husband, "The Captain," to hang out with them. Meanwhile, Marshall and Robin decide to spend alone time together, and Barney and Lily possibly have a fight.
Lily and Marshall receive shocking news that has a profound impact on the gang. Ted begins his duties as best man for an old friend's wedding.
Afraid they will never get pregnant, Lily and Marshall decide to see a specialist. Robin begins her new job.
While on a trip to Minnesota, Ted and Barney try anything to make Marshall laugh. Marshall runs into an old nemesis from high school.
Barney gets emotional when he opens up to Honey about his life. Ted admits to having feelings for Zoey to the group.
Barney declares February 13th a holiday for desperate women. Marshall receives a Valentine's Day surprise from Lily. Zoey and Ted work on figuring out their relationship.
Marshall becomes obsessed with saving the environment after seeing a documentary on garbage. Ted runs into The Captain. Barney admits he has feelings for a woman.
When Barney starts to have real feelings for Nora, he worries that something is wrong with his heart. Meanwhile, Robin starts dating a guy who acts a lot like a dog.
Barney meets his father and is shocked by the differences in their lives. The rest of the gang learn their "gaps"; knowledge they should have by now, but don't.
Lily and Barney react badly when Marshall finally quits his job at Goliath National Bank to take a volunteer position at an environmental organization. Meanwhile, Ted and Zoey's opposing positions on the future of the Arcadia come between them.
When Barney tries to bond with his father, he asks the gang to help make his life seem more exciting by lying about their own lives. Meanwhile, Robin runs into a guy she has a crush on.
When Marshall and Barney argue over the destruction of the Arcadian Hotel, Robin and Lily try to mix the right combination of cocktails that will force them to make up. Meanwhile, Ted plans a romantic weekend away with Zoey.
When Ted is faced with an important decision that might affect his future with Zoey, the gang expresses their true feelings about her.
Robin and Barney bond when they intervene in Ted's relationship, and Marshall and Lily watch a ticking clock as he fears that he soon will be the victim of food poisoning.
When Lily and Marshall have trouble finding a nanny, they learn it's because of an elaborate scheme Barney came up with to meet girls. Meanwhile, Robin and Ted butt heads over who has a more serious relationship.
When Lily and Marshall can't decide on godparents for Marvin, they put the gang to the test to see who would make the best one.
As the season of break-ups continues, Ted and Victoria must choose the next step in their long and complicated relationship. Meanwhile, Robin worries about Barney when he chooses a dog to be his wingman.
When Robin is hesitant to break up with Nick, Barney takes matters into his own hands. Meanwhile, Lily and Marshall are desperate for some private time.
Marshall recommends his old law school classmate Brad for a job at his firm, but the interview goes awry, leaving Marshall to do damage control with his boss. Meanwhile, Robin helps negotiate Barney's return to the strip club circuit.
Marshall takes on his old friend/new nemesis Brad in the biggest case of his career. Meanwhile, the gang reminisces about their own run-ins with the law, leading to a debate over who was the biggest delinquent as a teenager.
Robin is determined to get Barney back no matter what it takes. Meanwhile, Ted fills in as Marvin's Nanny, leading Marshall and Lily to realize that Ted is using baby Marvin to replace his other baby, the GNB building.
Barney's developing relationship with Patrice leaves Robin questioning his motives. Marshall's widowed mother gets back into the dating pool, but he thinks she may be swimming with a shark.
Robin takes steps to have Patrice fired from WWN, while Marshall puts a jinx on Barney. Later, Ted invites his architecture professor to the dedication of the GNB building, and Marshall and Lily bump into an oddball acquaintance from college.
Christmas approaches and Ted wrestles with whether to tell Robin about Barney's intentions involving Patrice, while Marshall and Lily get an early Yule gift, a night away from Marvin, but a case of separation anxiety strikes and threatens to ruin the evening.
When Robin learns that Barney never asked her father's permission before proposing, she insists that he seek his approval before announcing their engagement. Meanwhile, Ted keeps his feelings concealed by throwing himself into planning their wedding.
Barney begs Ted to continue seeing his much younger, much wilder girlfriend, even though Ted has nothing in common with her. Meanwhile, Robin must adjust to the power of the bling.
Barney uncovers the lost episode of Robin's “Underneath the Tunes” as Robin Sparkles. Meanwhile, Marshall and Lily are concerned that Ted's new girlfriend is a stalker.
Ted is reluctant to break up with his crazy girlfriend Jeanette. Meanwhile, Robin becomes attached to Marvin after finally holding him for the first time.
When Ted receives an unexpected call from The Captain, the gang reminisced about their last awkward encounter with him.
Barney's legendary relationship playbook, which Robin thought was destroyed, rears its head when Ted and Jeanette break up and Barney decides to use his chick manual to help Ted find a new girlfriend.
Barney reluctantly attempts to sell his apartment by holding an open house, during which Ted and Marshall get mistaken for a couple. Tension arises between Lily and Marshall when her new job causes her to spend less time at home.
Ted and Barney's future versions attempt to persuade present day Ted to go see Robots Versus Wrestlers. Marshall and Robin have a dance-off.
When The Captain asks Lily to move to Rome for a year as his art consultant, she fears that Marshall will resent her. Meanwhile, Ted and Barney become obsessed with a girl who is hiding her amazing body under a puffy coat.
The gang works together to plan a legendary bachelor party for Barney.
Robin desperately tries to locate the item that she buried in Central Park years earlier to wear as her "Something Old" for the wedding. Meanwhile, Marshall and Lily ask Ted to help them pack for Italy, and Barney invites Robin's father to play Laser Tag in order to bond with him.
As the gang prepares to go to Robin and Barney's wedding, Ted invites Lily to see the house he's finally finished fixing up. Meanwhile, Robin and Barney's night of relaxation is ruined by an obnoxious couple, and Marshall takes the baby on a last-minute trip to Minnesota to see his family.
2013
On their way to Long Island for their wedding weekend, Robin and Barney come across a startling family discovery. Meanwhile, Marshall sees something online that changes the course of his journey east, while Lily confronts Ted about letting go of Robin.
When James reveals that he is getting divorced, Robin worries about how Barney will take the news. Meanwhile, Marshall races to find a way to get to New York in time for the wedding, and Ted deals with being alone at a romantic hotel.
When Lily discovers Ted's list of things he wants to do in New York before he moves for Chicago, she becomes frustrated that she is the only person who knows about his plans. Meanwhile, Robin and Barney realize they have very little time together before their relatives arrive for their wedding.
While Barney works through his anger at Ted after finding out he still has feelings for Robin, Marshall Skypes in to act as a judge and help settle their dispute. Meanwhile, Lily realizes she is Robin's only girlfriend.
Barney is upset after Robin wins James's wedding ring during the poker game, and Ted argues with Marshall and Lily over whether he gave them a wedding gift.
When Ted finds himself with three prospects to be his date for the wedding weekend, he chooses poorly. Meanwhile, Barney and Robin have a confrontation with their minister, and Marshall learns more about his driving companion, Daphne.
When Daphne sends a troubling text message to Lily, Marshall enlists the gang's help to remove the message while enforcing the "No Questions Asked" rule.
When Robin and Loretta's conflict escalates, Barney is caught in the middle. Meanwhile, Marshall and Daphne deal with a stowaway on their road trip, and Ted and Cassie try to enjoy a trip to a lighthouse.
During a flashback, the gang wonders how the Ted, Robin and Barney love triangle will play out; Barney accepts challenges from Robin and Lily.
Barney concocts a plan when his father arrives at the hotel; Ted thinks he is being framed when a wedding-related duty gets messed up.
Marshall tries to get Marvin to sleep by reciting rhyming bedtime stories.
Robin is dismayed when Barney wants to have their rehearsal dinner at a laser tag arena; Ted aggravates Lily by not following through with a promise.
A man at the wedding intentionally stirs up trouble; Marshall finally arrives at the Farhampton Inn.
In an attempt to deliver a devastating final slap to Barney, Marshall explains how he mastered the Slap of A Million Exploding Suns.
Robin and Ted try to get Barney to reveal secrets after he drinks too much; Marshall tries to avoid fighting with Lily.
The mother reveals how she met Ted and what she has been doing over the past eight years.
Robin and Ted reminisce about past relationships as they search for a drunken Barney on the day of the wedding; Lily and Marshall come to a resolution; Barney befriends two men who are eager to meet women.
The gang must figure out how to make the Stinson Hangover Fixer Elixir to help Barney recover on the day of the wedding.
Robin and Lily have a fight on the morning of the wedding; Barney can't decide what suit to wear; the gang watches a movie that Ted didn't want them to see.
Marshall asks Barney and Ted for help figuring out where Lily went in the middle of the night during their argument.
When Gary Blauman shows up at the wedding, it sends the gang into a frenzy as they each recall an encounter with him.
With only a half an hour left before the wedding, Robin and Barney panic; Lily and Marshall rewrite their wedding vows.
Ted finally finishes telling his kids the story of how he met their mother.
Ted finally finishes telling his kids the story of how he met their mother.
2011
While Barney prepares for his wedding to a mystery bride, he and Ted reminisce about Punchy's wedding, including when Marshall and Lily announced they are having a baby. Meanwhile, Robin considers telling Barney she has feelings for him.
Marshall gets a great job offer that he fears may be scuttled by a social media background check. Ted needs a date for the Architects Ball.
Barney faces having to wear Marshall's ducky tie if he loses a bet with him. Meanwhile, Ted hopes to apologize to an ex for cheating on her.
After Robin assaults a girl who is out to ruin Barney's relationship, she is forced to begin court-mandated therapy sessions. Meanwhile, Ted gets too involved in Lily's pregnancy.
Marshall decides to step in after seeing his boss's approach to settling with a million dollar company. Ted's class trip isn't what he envisioned.
When Ted goes on a date without researching the girl on the Internet, the gang interferes, showing Kevin that they are too into each other's business. Meanwhile, Lily and Marshall come to terms with finding out the sex of their baby.
The gang begins to realize their romantic partner reminds them of one of their parents. Meanwhile, Barney and Nora's planned romantic evening is ruined by a string of bad events.
Ted finally meets his mystery girl in the Slutty Pumpkin costume. Meanwhile, Barney learns he is part Canadian, and Lily has pregnancy brain.
While the gang reminisces about Hurricane Irene, Barney tries to cut a deal with Marshall and Lily to get out of wearing the Ducky Tie.
Barney and Robin are afraid to break the news to Nora and Kevin that they cheated with each other and want to get back together, while Ted and Marshall get stoned together at a concert.
Ted and Barney discuss making a life-changing decision together, and Robin tries to discourage Marshall and Lily from moving to Long Island.
Robin receives bad news and decides to hide it from the gang. Marshall hangs Christmas decorations in his house in the suburbs with some help from his neighbor.
After celebrating New Year's Eve, Marshall visits his father's graveside to carry on their tradition of tailgating. Meanwhile, Barney and Ted open a bar called "Puzzles," and Robin is forced to fill in for an inebriated news anchor.
Lily and Marshall officially move to the suburbs and realize that Lily's bossy father refuses to move out of their house. Meanwhile, the gang adjusts to them moving by going to a strip club.
Lily asks for her father's help when she and Marshall decide to throw a housewarming party. Marshall's boss gets under Ted's skin and the two nearly come to blows, and Barney puts the moves on a wacky divorcée.
Lily and Marshall invite Robin and Kevin on a Valentine's Day trip to Vermont. Kevin and Robin use the trip to talk about taking their relationship to the next level. Meanwhile, Barney realizes he has finally met his match.
When Robin breaks up with Kevin, Ted confesses his feelings to her. Meanwhile, Barney is on a mission to find something private of Marshall and Lily's.
Barney continues his pursuit of Quinn. Ted has to deal with Robin's old room, while Robin gets a taste of suburban life from Marshall and Lily.
The gang tries to break up Barney and Quinn after learning they plan on moving in together, leaving Robin and Ted to fight over who deserves to sublet her apartment.
Ted, Marshall and Barney embark on another "trilogy time", where they get together every three years to watch the "Star Wars" trilogy and envision what their lives will be like in another three years. Meanwhile Barney and Quinn move in together.
Although Ted is happy with living alone at his new apartment, Barney tries to convince him about going out every night. Lily has a naughty dream about someone other than Marshall. Robin finally starts her stint as a news anchor at World Wide News.
Marshall panics when a baby shower indicates that the birth is close at hand and accidentally takes a road trip with Barney. Ted hallucinates seeing Robin while trying to get over her and decides to patch up their differences. Barney tries to talk Quinn out of being a stripper.
When Lily goes into labor, Ted and Robin distract her by telling her stories while Marshall hurries back from Atlantic City.
Ted is conflicted when Victoria approaches him on her wedding day and asks him to elope. Meanwhile, Barney and Quinn are arrested by airport security while on the way to Hawaii when Barney refuses to open a box they are travelling with.
